THE GALE AT AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 6

THE GALE AT AUCKLAND.

' A GOLD SNAP. v ' ■ - TEEMENDOUS SEA RUNNING. : • BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL ' CORRESPONDENT!.. Auckland, March 20. Tho .fine weather would seem to 'have broken lip in Auckland. For some days the early mornings and tho evenings have been chilly, and yesterday showers oi rain fell to th 6 accompaniment of- a cold "snap" induced by a south-easterly wind. A heavy gale passed over the' city last night, ' and tho weather continues,'stormy. A very big sea is-running on tho 'west coast and the sea is by no means calm :<m this side of tho island. The telegraphic communication with stations south, of- Napier was interrupted' yesterday afternoon, but the service was restored to normal last night. . • The' Takapuna ■ arrived . at'OneHunga this morning after;aii exceptionally rough passage from New Plymouth. • She encountered some of the heaviest seas . Captain Hutchings has seen on the coast. . They rushed at,the vessel. from all. sides," and some idea of their force may be gathered from the fact that. ■ although' tho Takapuna,is a fast boat, and .was running before thd gale, some- of the heaviest seas broke' over aft. The Takapuna ; passed tho Ra-rawa at 2 o'clock this morning •some, sixty-five- miles' from New Plymouth, and sho was'"tearing into it," said. Captain' Hutchings.. "She was almost standing on end." ■■ / ■ ■■ >:• ■ .

Thero is a tremendous sea running on the Manukau bar, and. tho shipping on tho Manukau is tied up in consequence. The Claymore, which was to have sailed to-day ,for. Raglan and Kawhia, will not be despatched until Monday next, while the Takapuna's departure for : New Plymouth and Wellington has been postponed, from. this afternoon until 9 a.m. to-morrow. ROUGH PASSACE. * . ■. ■ v _ u. . . ACCIDENT TO A FIREMAN. tBT TELSOEAPn.—PRESS ASSOCIATION,) ' New Plymouth, March 20. Tho Corinna arrived at the breakwater this: morning, after a vory rough passage from Wellington. At times tho vessel was standing almost, on end, with her bow out of the water, and her stern submerged six or eight . feet.. The engine-room door was smashed, in, and three feet of water found its way into'the stokehold, , A fireman was

knocked (lown by tho heavy sea, and had to receivo medical attention here, when tho steamer arrived. A littlo damago was caused on deck, but tho cargo was undamaged-. Tho Rarawa also had a long and Tough trip from Onehunga. ! Y RAIN AT MASTERTON. (DT XELEQRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Masterton, March 20. Farmers are jubilant over the abundant and continuous Tain. About one and a half inch has fallen since rain set in, which will be the salvation'of the whole district. The 'elfoct is already apparent in improvod values. YACHTS SUNK AT WANGANUI. , (BY TELUGEAPII.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Wanganul, March 20. A cold southerly gale, with frequent heavy showers,.'is being experienced hero. Shipping is delayed inport. Several yachts broko from their moorings in tho river, and others were suhk, STORM AT GISBORNE. TELEGItAm—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ' Cisborne, March 20. A heavy south-easterly gale set in last night and. is still raging. Tho rainfall for the past 24 hours' lias been 4.15 inches, making a total so far this month of 6.54 inches. The average for March for 30 years is four inches.^. Sheds were blown down and verandahs uplifted. .; There are heavy floods in the river, but, no damage is reported., HEAVY RAIN AT WAiROA. ..'i Y/alroa, March 20. The rainfall .at Wairoa. for 24 hours was "3.6 inches; Frasertown, 4.12 inches. The river is still rising. i DAMAGE AT NAPIER. YACHTS. SUNK AND DRIVEN ASHORE. (BY TELEGtIAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Napier, March 20. A south-westerly _ hurricano swept the inner harbour last night, and played havoc with a number of yachts,-which wero sunk or broken adrift from their moorings. Mr. Aubrey Smith's (Wellington) Patiki Tuna was amongst the unfortunate vessels, and was blown ashore towards Petane, but, so far as can bo learned, sustained no damago. Two other yachts.- were driven ashore, and threo sunk. . A fine oil launch, owned'by Mr. J. Vigor. Brown, also sank: - : A good deal of minor damago is reported. ' (BY CORRESPONDENT.) V , Foilding, March 20. Further; soaking rain was experienced to-day. Palmerston North, March 20. ■ Tho weather to-day . was ' exceptionally cold,. with light showers of ■ rain: Since tho proviously warm rairi feed has grown rapidly, and so far thero is no necessity for any anxiety for the winter.supply. .